• UNM 2016-2017 Catalog
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• >Honors College

Honors College

Catherine Krause, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Dean
Ursula Shepherd, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, Associate Dean
Dudley Wynn Honors Center
Student Health Center Building, Room 21
MSC06 3890
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-4211 

Faculty
Sarita J. Cargas, D.Phil., University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Leslie A. Donovan, Ph.D., University of Washington
Christopher L. Holden, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Amaris Ketcham, M.F.A., Eastern Washington University
Megan Jacobs, M.F.A., University of New Mexico
Troy Lovata, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Jason R. Moore, Ph.D., University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
Ursula Shepherd, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Ryan Swanson, Ph.D., Georgetown University
Marygold Walsh-Dilley, Ph.D., Cornell University

Emeritus
Celia López-Chávez, Ph.D., University of Seville (Spain)
Rosalie C. Otero, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Michael Thomas, Ph.D., University of Washington

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Introduction

The Honors College at the University of New Mexico is located in the heart of campus in the Dudley Wynn Honors Center on the plaza level of the Student Health Center building. The College provides a liberal arts education to highly motivated and academically committed undergraduates from all University of New Mexico colleges and schools. The Honors College offers a Bachelors of Arts in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts and a Minor in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts. Students can also choose to obtain a fifteen-credit hour transcripted Honors designation. All options complement a student’s academic work in another University of New Mexico college or school.

The Honors College features small (16–17 students) interdisciplinary seminars that allow for lively discussion, student participation and the opportunity to work with outstanding faculty selected for their commitment to students, scholarship, and teaching. Students receive individual advisement, extensive interaction with faculty, and opportunities for independent research and field-based learning here and abroad.

Participation is by application only; all undergraduates interested in a challenging intellectual program are encouraged to apply online. Students are primarily selected on the basis of their academic potential (ACT or SAT scores), record in high school, or college-level work and intellectual motivation. Students are encouraged to join the Honors College during the first semester of their freshman year. Second-semester freshmen, as well as sophomores and first-semester juniors, may, however, also apply to the College.

Honors seminars are offered at the 100-, 200-, 300- and 400-levels. The Legacy Seminars offered at the 100-level introduce Honors students to interdisciplinary scholarship while meeting Humanities core curriculum requirements. Seminars offered at the 200-level continue students’ exposure to interdisciplinary work. In addition, 200-level seminars are offered that meet University of New Mexico Core curriculum requirements in all areas except foreign language. Upper-division seminars allow students to deepen their understanding of the interconnectedness of academic disciplines; 400-level seminars are explorations of topics that are more in-depth than those of lower-level seminars, and students assume greater responsibility for their own learning. The capstone senior options (Senior Colloquium with Service-Learning, Senior Thesis, or Senior Teaching) allow students to examine personal value systems and social ethics, gain experience as student teachers, or pursue independent research.

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Admission Information

The Honors College at UNM welcomes applications from motivated students seeking a rigorous liberal arts experience. The Honors College admission process is a holistic decision made after review of the applicant’s high school curriculum and GPA, standardized test scores, and evidence of leadership and community involvement. 

To apply to the Honors College, incoming freshmen, current UNM students, or transfer students must fill out an Honors College application. Transfer or current UNM students should apply to the Honors College by the end of their freshmen year. Acceptance is on a rolling basis. 

Requirements

Incoming Freshman

While the Honors College has no absolute admissions criteria, incoming freshmen with an ACT composite test score of 28 or higher or an SAT score of 1900 or higher AND a high school cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 are automatically admitted following submission of an application. Additionally, freshmen who are National Merit Scholars and Finalists, National Hispanic Scholars, National Achievement Scholars, American Indian Scholars, and recipients of UNM's Presidential and Regents Scholarships are automatically admitted following submission of an application. The entering class of 2015 had an average high school GPA of 3.93 and an ACT score above 29.

Transfer and Current Students

Transfer or current UNM students are required to obtain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher and must have completed ENGL 110 or the equivalent with a grade of "B" or better to be considered for admission to the Honors College. Transfer students who meet these requirements are admitted on a rolling basis.

Provisional Acceptance

Students who do not meet all criteria for automatic admission may still be accepted to the Honors College on a provisional basis. To be considered, the applicant should submit a recommendation letter from a teacher or counselor who will address why the student is an excellent candidate for the College.

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Associated Programs

Undergraduate Program

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